I am a complete noob and this is my first post so if I am in the wrong spot tell me. I use my computer to watch and listen to bass stuff so as to learn some bass lines for the music I like (blues). The problem is my wife. For some reason she cant't handle the same bass line over and over and often wrong so I wear headphones with one cable coming out of the amp and the other coming out of the computer with a splitter so I can play along. Well, the frigging wires are driving me nuts. I,m looking for a way to listen to myself and the bass player on the computer wirelessly. Don't want to spend a fortune. The cable from my bass to the amp doesn't bother me but the headphone cables suck. Is there a such thing as wireless headphones that can pick up a wireless signal from both my amp and the output from the computer. I am only at the point where I can play a few songs so I have a long way to go. I don't care about effects just want something simple that won't break the bank. I'm thinking two separate wireless transmitters but don't know if there are headphones that receive two signals. Hope I am clear about what I'm asking. Thanx Papa B
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practicing quietly
- Thread starter papa b
- Start date
You're going to want to search for some wireless RF headphones. NOT Bluetooth as the latency will be pretty aggravating. The Sennheiser RS 120 looks like it would do the trick for less than $75. Good company as well. Simply replace your current headphones' spot on your splitter with the transmitter from the Sennheiser wireless setup. It looks like the RS120 comes with every adapter one would need. 3.5mm, RCA, 1/8", etc I would recommend an inexpensive Behringer audio interface like the UM2 Uphoria for less than $50 as well. I've seen it on sale for $30. Not required if you're happy with your current experience other than the headphone cable getting in your way.
I don't own these phones, but they're on my short list. I'm still using an old pair of RF wireless video game headphones I've had for a decade for my wire-free computer practice sessions.
I'm with you. I dislike wires around my neck when playing. Here's an Amazon link.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw23JJzXw7O245CAQsU91Kui
I don't own these phones, but they're on my short list. I'm still using an old pair of RF wireless video game headphones I've had for a decade for my wire-free computer practice sessions.
I'm with you. I dislike wires around my neck when playing. Here's an Amazon link.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw23JJzXw7O245CAQsU91Kui
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thanks man. starting to wonder if I was so new that I didn't exist
Anytime. I edited
I completely understand. In my opinion, you posted this question in the correct topic section. But the recording gear section doesn't get the most traffic. If you posted "What bass should I buy for X amount?" in the basses section, you'd have gotten 20 replies in 10 minutes. This is a great forum, but certain topics get answers slower than others.
you might look into a small mixer. The Mackie Mix5, Behringer Xenyx 502, or similar will let you plug the computer and the bass in, control their relative volumes, and there's a headphone out that you can use to feed your wireless RF headphones.
I practice totally unplugged. I can hear my bass fine when playing along with the youtube videos on my laptop. Have you tried to see if your bass has enough acoustic output to do that?
This can have negative effects on technique. Especially for dynamics. Trying to play palm muting, quiet finger passages over the bridge pickup, etc without any amplification are very difficult to hear. Even with a resonant, chambered electric bass with brand new round wounds (which describes my main bass). OP mentioned playing blues as well, a lot of which is played with a lighter touch. This has been my experience anyways. Practicing scales and such unplugged while having the TV on was a regular occurrence for me at one point. When I would play with the same force through phones or an amp, I found I started to become pretty ham-fisted with my plucking hand.
I have a little Mackie Mixer on my desk that I use for practice. I know the headphone wire was one of your complaints. I have just gotten used to it. I have my PC sending out to the (i think it's labeled) tape in. I have my bass plugged into channel 1. My drum machine is plugged into channel 2. Not wireless, but definitely does the trick and on a budget. If you are dead set on no headphone wire, maybe this:
Xvive Audio U4 Wireless In-Ear Monitoring System
It's like bringing a bazooka to a knife fight, but would definitely do the trick. I don't own/haven't tried, but reviews and YT vid look positive.
A third, and way less expensive solution (again wired) might be:
B1on Bass Effects Pedal
There is a newer version of this product if you like the idea of this direction. I'm suggesting this one because it's bound to be out there at a more budget friendly price point. It's decent enough for practice uses. Some people use them for performance.
Has 1/4" in for your bass, 1/4" wired headphones out /out to amp. Has 1/8" for in from your phone or PC or whatever.
So there you go, hope something here works for you!
Hmm, I have found it to be quite the opposite. Might be my bass though, I can hear everything when it's unplugged. And hearing everything without relying on the amplification has helped me find all the tonal differences playing different places on the strings with my right hand. YMMV and what works for one may not for others. ;-)
To me it seems like the obvious solution is to attenuate the OP’s wife’s hearing and just have the OP practice at stage level through an amp.
She could wear some of those headphone-looking things aircraft ground crew wear. Easy, stay on your head...
She could wear some of those headphone-looking things aircraft ground crew wear. Easy, stay on your head...
You don't really need your amp for this practice, do you? Once you take your amp out of the equation there are many ways to go about this. All you really need is an audio interface (USB, Thunderbolt, whatever) and your computer, then some way to turn the headphone out of the interface into a wireless signal for some wireless headphones, like a cheapo Bluetooth transmitter. Or skip the wireless and just use wired headphones. You'll only have 2 cables to contend with--the bass going into the interface hi-z input, and the headphone cable. You're sitting right there anyway. Nice and tidy.
You'll mix the bass signal and the other audio in the computer via software - typically most audio interfaces these days come with software that enables this without needing a full DAW. You'll have to research them, but look at the budget offerings from MOTU and Focusrite for starters.
If you want more of an "amp sound" while doing this, then you can either use a preamp of some kind going in, or an amp sim plug-in.
You'll mix the bass signal and the other audio in the computer via software - typically most audio interfaces these days come with software that enables this without needing a full DAW. You'll have to research them, but look at the budget offerings from MOTU and Focusrite for starters.
If you want more of an "amp sound" while doing this, then you can either use a preamp of some kind going in, or an amp sim plug-in.
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+1 to the small mixer and headphones. Much easier to put together a mix you can live with between your bass and a source. I have a pair of Sennheiser wireless headphone, but I found that the compression/expansion circuitry really screwed with the sound and went back to wired cans. I greatly improved the bass sound by using a modeling unit, but that's just more wires to deal with. Unless you're eq'ing the life out of your bass, this method makes it difficult to hide behind poor technique, as you can hear every thing you are doing.
Welcome to TB!
I think you identified the problem!
Seriously, cables are part of the game. I would not use wireless headphones personally. If I have to be dead quiet, I use my small mixer or my audio interface, 2 things I can use for other tasks. If I were you, I’d buy a small audio interface of a small mixer with USB. You would be able to record yourself with the original tracks and hear how you play. It’s a good learning experience!
+1 to this setup. You can use it to record as well.
I also recommend getting a free copy of AmpliTube 4, so you can add effects and amp settings and toy around with those.
Pay attention to open versus closed back headphones too. The ones listed in the first reply look like open back headphones which means someone sitting next to you can more easily hear the headphone noise.
If you're looking at cans...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G748HKJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You honestly can't beat those for the price. 50mm drivers mean you'll get all the low end you want/need. $30-40 gets you headphones that are about 80% the sound quality of the Sony MDRX10s that I really love. These headphones also come with a cord that ends in a regular headphone jack on one side and a 1/4" jack on the other...super handy if you're gonna be using a USB input device.
If you're gonna spend a bit more money, get these:
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRX10-RED-Headphones-Diaphragms/dp/B00CQQND5K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=simon+cowell+sony+mdr&qid=1580845939&sr=8-1&th=1
Once you've got them broken in, you just plain won't get better audio quality for the price imo. The bass on them is deep and rich and rounded but the highs and mids are also perfectly clear. They're super comfortable and you can literally forget you're wearing them for hours. Probably my most favorite headphones ever, but I've never really gotten into the really spendy side of things to see if I'm still missing out on anything
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G748HKJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You honestly can't beat those for the price. 50mm drivers mean you'll get all the low end you want/need. $30-40 gets you headphones that are about 80% the sound quality of the Sony MDRX10s that I really love. These headphones also come with a cord that ends in a regular headphone jack on one side and a 1/4" jack on the other...super handy if you're gonna be using a USB input device.
If you're gonna spend a bit more money, get these:
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRX10-RED-Headphones-Diaphragms/dp/B00CQQND5K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=simon+cowell+sony+mdr&qid=1580845939&sr=8-1&th=1
Once you've got them broken in, you just plain won't get better audio quality for the price imo. The bass on them is deep and rich and rounded but the highs and mids are also perfectly clear. They're super comfortable and you can literally forget you're wearing them for hours. Probably my most favorite headphones ever, but I've never really gotten into the really spendy side of things to see if I'm still missing out on anything
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Also, when you buy a new amp in the future, look for one that has an audio input. Even a small portable amp like the Yamaha THX has an audio input. Then you could just plug your phone or computer into it and eliminate the splitter component. Even nicer would be one with a Bluetooth input for this since the latency wouldn't matter in this regard and it would eliminate another cable.
An easy, inexpensive alternative is to wear the headphones so the cables run down your back. If the headphone cable is not long enough you may need an extension, but you'll spend less money for the extension than for a wireless setup.
Good luck!
Koog
Good luck!
Koog
Not only am I inflicted with the the noob disease I am also old, but not dead yet. This information is priceless to me and I am already looking at an interface. I am still in windows 7 so will probably go to windows 10 just to make sure this stuff will fly for me. A friend came over with a looper and we laid down some bass and guitar blues jams and I loved that. I also play the harp so that would be exciting as well. The only problem was I thought I was just bad but after hearing myself play I realized I was horrible. Bass ain't easy, but this is part of the process for me. All these tips are great and I do appreciate them. Funny how something as simple as running a cord down your back makes so much difference.
